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Soft Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Four gooey, freshly baked cinnamon rolls topped with thick white icing in a white baking dish.
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A straightforward recipe for making soft, fluffy, pull-apart cinnamon rolls with a rich cream cheese glaze.

Ingredients

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  • 1 cup whole milk, warm
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened, plus more for greasing
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/4 cup for filling
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted, for filling
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar, plus more for thinning
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Warm the milk until it reaches 105-115°F. Stir in the yeast and let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup softened butter and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the salt.
  3. Add the yeast mixture to the butter mixture. Gradually add the flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5-7 minutes until smooth.
  4. Place the dough in a lightly buttered bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
  5. Punch down the risen dough. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 12×18 inches.
  6. Brush the surface of the dough evenly with the 1/2 cup melted butter. Mix the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons cinnamon. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the buttered dough.
  7. Starting from the long edge, tightly roll the dough into a log. Pinch the seam closed.
  8. Cut the log into 12 equal rolls. Place the rolls cut-side up in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Cover and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
  9. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
  10. While the rolls bake, prepare the icing: Beat the softened cream cheese, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add a tablespoon of milk or water if the icing is too thick.
  11. Remove the rolls from the oven and immediately spread the cream cheese icing over the warm rolls. Serve warm.

Notes

  • For the softest rolls, use room temperature eggs and milk that is warm but not hot.
  • If your dough is sticky after the first rise, add flour one tablespoon at a time while kneading.
  • Do not overbake the rolls; they should still look slightly pale in the center when you remove them for the best moisture.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tasteportfolio.com/cinnamon-roll-bliss-recipe/